Combined hook and clasp.



No. 64!,544. Patented Jan. t6, I900.

C. V. RICHARDS.

COMBINED HOOK AND CLASP.

(Application filed May 23. 1899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES A TTOHNE 1H: Noam: PEYERS 00., PHDTO-LITHO,WASNiNGTON, a. c.

Nrrnn STATES ATENT 1 met,

CHARLES V. RICHARDS, OF SKOWHEGAN, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN M. CARROLL, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED H'OOK AND CLASP;

"SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 641,544, dated January 16, iooo.

Application filed May 23,1899. Serial No. 717,893 (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES V. RICHARDS, of Skowhegan, in the county of Somerset and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Combined Hook and Clasp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

I The object of the invention is to provide a device adapted for attachment to the waistband of a skirt and to be supported from a belt of that type which is independent of the skirt, and to so construct the device that it will be light, simple, and strong, capable of ready manipulation, and that will not injure the garment to which it is applied.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved device applied to the waistband of a skirt. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the device drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The device practically comprises three partsa body-plate, a clamping-plate, and a connecting-link between the two. The bodyplate A consists of a strip of metal of suitable width, that is provided with a hook 10 at its upper end, the hook being at the rear of the body and formed by carrying the material of the body rearward and downward at the top. The body-plate is further provided with forwardly-extending longitudinal ears 11 at its side edges, nearer the bottom than the top, and the lower end of the body-plate is inclined downwardly and forwardly, forming a lip 12.

The clamping-plate B is of less length than the body-plate, but is preferably made much wider, and its inner or rear face is convexed and its outer or front face concaved. The clamping-plate B is provided with an eye 13 at the top and a gutter 14 at the bottom, formed by carrying the lower edge of the said clamping-plate B upwardly and rearwardly, as is best shown in Fig. 3, and when the clamping-plate is in looking engagement with the body-plate the tongue 12 of the body-plate,

A enters the gutter 14 of the clamping-plate B.

A U-shaped link or yoke 15 is employed to connect the body-plate with the clampingplate. The ends of the yoke 15 are pivoted in the ears 11, preferably near the lower ends of said ears, and the yoke or link is of sufficientlength to extend above said ears 11. The upper or bow portion of the link or yoke 15 is forwardly curved and is loosely mounted in the eye 13 of the clamping-plate B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3; \Vhen the clamping-plate B is locked to the body-plate A, the two parts may be readily separated by simply drawing the clamping-plate B away from the body'- plate A at its top portion, whereupon the link 15 and clamping-plate B will fall to the dotted position shown in Fig. 3. When the parts are in this position, the lower edge of the clamping-plate is made to engage with the in= ner surface of the waistband, and the lip of the body-plate A will be brought outside of the waistband, as shown in Fig. 1. Now by carrying the clamping-plate upward the material will be crowded between the surface of the gutter 14 and lower end of the lip 12, and owing to the shape of the U-shaped link or yoke when the upper edge of the U link or yoke strikes the front surface of the body plate the striking-surface of the clamping plate will be within the line of fulcrum of the link or yoke, thus holding the parts firmly together. The outside belt may now be slipped up at pleasure between the hook and bodyplate A.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a body-plate having a downwardly-extending hook at its upper end and a lip at its lower end, inclined toward the side of the body-plate opposite that at which the hook is located, said bod y-plate being also provided with side ears near the lip, of a U-shapedlink or yoke, having its members pivoted in said ears near their lower ends, the link or yoke being of sufficient length to extend above the ears, the upper or bow section of the link or yoke being also curved away from the body-plate, and a bowed clamping-plate pivotally attached to the bowsection of the link and provided with a gutter at its lower end adapted to receive the lip of the body-plate when the body-plate and clamping-plate are in looking position, as de scribed.

10 plate, and a clamping-plate carried pivotally at the free portion of the'yoke and provided at its lower end with an upturned portion or gutter capable of engaging under the lip of the body-plate 'when the yoke is raised to clamped position.

CHARLES V. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

FRED R. PHILBRIOK, E. G. EMERSON. 

